Configurable shipping crate assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9809350-B2
Application number	US-201615191911-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A bracket for securing a plurality of support members for a shipping crate assembly is also disclosed. The bracket forms a corner of the shipping crate assembly. The bracket includes first and second non-identical plates. The first and second non-identical plates are joined along a connection line. The first and second non-identical plates extend perpendicularly from each other. A foot is secured to the first and second non-identical plates, the foot being secured along the connection line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shipping crate assembly, comprising:
a plurality of first support members;
a plurality of brackets, each bracket including:
a bracket member having first and second non-identical parts, the bracket member being a metal plate, the bracket member including a connection line along which the first and second non-identical parts are joined, the first and second non-identical parts extending perpendicularly from each other;
a foot secured to the bracket member, the foot being secured along the connection line; and
a second support member made of metal and secured to the bracket member via a pin, wherein the second support member is rotatable about the pin, the second support member including one or more fixtures for securing the second support member in a fixed location,

wherein each of the plurality of brackets receives an end of two of the plurality of first support members, wherein a top surface of a first of the two of the plurality of first support members is disposed at a vertically different height from a top surface of the second of the two of the plurality of first support members, and a bottom surface of the first of the two of the plurality of first support members is disposed at a vertically different height from a bottom surface of the second of the two of the plurality of first support members.

2. The shipping crate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first support members is composed of wood and the brackets are composed of metal.

3. The shipping crate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the shipping crate assembly is one of cuboidal or rectangular cuboidal, and the plurality of brackets form a plurality of corners of the shipping crate assembly.

4. The shipping crate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second non-identical parts extend from a first lengthwise extent of the connection line, wherein the first non-identical part extends a first distance from the first lengthwise extent of the connection line to a second lengthwise extent of the first non-identical part,
the second non-identical part extends a second distance from the first lengthwise extent of the connection line to a third lengthwise extent of the second non-identical part, and
the first distance and the second distance are different.

5. The shipping crate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second non-identical parts extend from the connection line, wherein
the first non-identical part extends a first distance from the connection line to a first extent of the first non-identical part,
the second non-identical part extends a second distance from the connection line to a second extent of the second non-identical part, and
the first distance and the second distance are different.

6. The shipping crate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the foot includes an opening facing away from the first and second non-identical parts, the opening configured to receive the second support member such that the shipping crate assembly is stackable with another shipping crate assembly.

7. The shipping crate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second support member includes one or more second fixtures disposed between an end of the second support member and the one or more fixtures, the end of the second support member being disposed relatively farther from the pin than the one or more first fixtures; and
the shipping crate assembly further includes:
a cross-support member having second brackets at each end of the cross-support member,

wherein the one or more second fixtures are for securing the cross-support member to the second support member, wherein the cross-support member is secured to the second support member via an interference fit between the one or more fixtures and the second brackets.

8. The shipping crate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a major surface of the first of the two of the plurality of first support members is perpendicular to a major surface of the second of the two of the plurality of first support members.

9. A shipping crate assembly kit, comprising:
a plurality of first support members;
a plurality of brackets, each bracket including:
a bracket member having first and second non-identical parts, the bracket member being a metal plate, the bracket member including a connection line along which the first and second non-identical parts are joined the first and second non-identical parts extending perpendicularly from each other;
a foot secured to the first and second non-identical parts, the foot being secured along the connection line; and
a second support member made of metal and secured to the bracket member via a pin, wherein the second support member is rotatable about the pin, the second support member including one or more fixtures for securing the second support member in a fixed location; and

a plurality of fasteners for securing the plurality of first support members to the plurality of brackets, and
wherein each of the plurality of brackets receives an end of two of the plurality of first support members, wherein a top surface of a first of the two of the plurality of first support members is disposed at a vertically different height from a top surface of the second of the two of the plurality of first support members, and a bottom surface of the first of the two of the plurality of first support members is disposed at a vertically different height from a bottom surface of the second of the two of the plurality of first support members.

10. The shipping crate assembly kit according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second non-identical parts extend from a first lengthwise extent of the connection line, wherein the first non-identical part extends a first distance from the first lengthwise extent of the connection line to a second lengthwise extent of the first non-identical part,
the second non-identical part extends a second distance from the first lengthwise extent of the connection line to a third lengthwise extent of the second non-identical part, and
the first distance and the second distance are different.

11. The shipping crate assembly kit according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second non-identical parts extend from the connection line, wherein
the first non-identical part extends a first distance from the connection line to a first extent of the first non-identical part,
the second non-identical part extends a second distance from the connection line to a second extent of the second non-identical part, and
the first distance and the second distance are different.

12. The shipping crate assembly kit according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first support members are composed of wood and the plurality of brackets are composed of metal.

Assignees

• Thermo King Corp

Inventors

• Unger Richard F
• Lattin Robert Michael
• Radloff Randy A

Classifications

• B65D2519/00174

  Plastic · CPC title

• B65D9/24

  separate from container walls · CPC title

• B65D2519/00691

  separately formed · CPC title

• B65D2519/00243

  Plastic · CPC title

• E04C3/00

  Structural elongated elements designed for load-supporting (as building aids E04G) · CPC title